Michael Scafiddi
Top rated Criminal Defense attorney in San Bernardino, California
Law Offices of Michael A. ScafiddiPractice Areas: Criminal Defense, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in California since: 1997
Education: Southern University Law Center
Call today:
909-381-1000
Law Offices of Michael A. Scafiddi
432 N. Arrowhead AveSan Bernardino, CA 92401 Visit website
Details
Attorney Michael Scafiddi is the owner and president of the Law Offices of Michael A. Scafiddi, which has office locations in San Bernardino, San Diego and Temecula, California. A former police officer and sergeant, Mr. Scafiddi has more than 33 total years of experience in the legal system, the past 17 of which he has spent providing exceptional defense counsel to clients across his region who stand accused or are under investigation for any type of felony or misdemeanor offense.
Mr. Scafiddi's background in law enforcement provides him with a unique and invaluable insight into the criminal justice system that he uses to devise the most effective strategies possible to help his clients protect their rights and preserve their liberties and freedom. He has developed strong, professional relationships with many judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers in his area, and he has become a recognized authority on street gangs as well as drug recognition, DUI and juvenile crimes.
A 1991 graduate of Chaffey College with an Associate Science Degree, Mr. Scafiddi earned his Bachelor of Science in Law from California Southern Law School in 1995 and his Juris Doctor from the school in 1996. He has also completed numerous special courses and training involving a host of criminal matters, earning certification in Police Officers Standards and Training as well as certification as a traffic school instructor. He has also served as a licensed private investigator in California.
Along with maintaining a successful criminal defense practice, Mr. Scafiddi is highly active in many local, state and national legal organizations. He currently serves as vice president of the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, and he once served as president and member of board of directors of the San Bernardino Bar Association as well as member of the organization's Fee Dispute/Arbitration Panel.
Honored for his outstanding professionalism and service, Mr. Scafiddi received the Kearney Nydam Award in 2010 for his selfless pro bono contributions, and he received the St. Thomas Moore Award in 2012 for his commitment to his community and justice. He is also the recipient of the Access to Justice Award from the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino.
Moreover, the National Trial Lawyers voted Mr. Scafiddi among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States, and he holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating* from Martindale-Hubbell. He has also received Superb client ratings on Avvo along with many testimonials and referrals from his satisfied clients.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault, Assault & Battery, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Probation, Sex Offenses, Theft, Traffic Violations, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
First Admitted: 1997, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.scafiddilaw.com/attorney/scafiddi-michael-a-esq/
- President, San Bernardino County Bar Association, 2008 – 2009
- Chairperson, San Bernardino County Bar Association Mentoring Program for New Lawyers (My role was to seek out new lawyers, help place them with veteran lawyers, as well as also volunteering my time to mentor new lawyers), 2008 – 2011
- Vice President/Board of Directors, Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino: 2004 – Present
- Member, Board of Directors – Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino: 1998 – Present
- Member – San Bernardino County Bar Association Local Judicial Candidate Screening and Evaluation Committee (My role on this committee is to review judicial candidate applications and provide first hand information about each candidate and assist the Chairperson in providing overall qualification of that candidate): 2007 – Present
- Chairperson – San Bernardino County Bar Association Criminal Law Section (My role is to organize and present at least six meetings per year on topics in regards to criminal law for local lawyers): 2006 – Present
- Past Member, Police Officers Research Association of California (Porac)
- Board of Directors, San Bernardino County Bar Association, 2004 – 2010
- California State Bar No. 188567
- Past Member, Inland Empire Gang Investigators Association
- Past Member, California Gang Investigators Association
- Past Member, California Prison Gang Task Force
- Past President, Banning Police Officers Association, 1989 – 1990
- Past Member, Inland Empire Gang Investigators Association
- Past Member, West End Gang Investigators Association
- Past Vice President, Banning Police Officers Association, 1988 – 1989
- Current Member, Retired Police Officers Research Association of California (RPORAC)
- Current Member, San Bernardino County Bar Association
- Current Member, Consumer Attorneys Inland Empire
- Past Member, Consumer Attorneys of California
- Current Member, California State Bar Association
- Sustaining Fellow Bar Leader, National Conference of Bar Presidents, October 2008 – Present
- Current Co-Chair Person, San Bernardino County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section
- Member, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association – 2009 – Present
- Member, Riverside County Bar Association, 2009 – Present
- Board of Directors, San Bernardino County Bar Association, 2004 – Present
- Immediate Past President of San Bernardino County Bar Association: October 2009 – October 2010
- Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Vice President 2018-2019, 2018
- President, San Bernardino County Bar Association, October 2008 – October 2009
- Member California DUI Attorney Association, 2008 – Present
- San Bernardino County Bar Association Fee Dispute Arbitration Panel Member past 10 years San Bernardino County Bar Association Nominating Committee for Board Members , 2019
- San Bernardino County Bar Association President, 2009
- Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino President 2018-2019 Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Vice President 2004-2018, 2019
- Member of the President's Advisory Board for Aquinas High School, 2000
- 1.9 million civil settlement brain injury case, 2015
- 1.8 million dollar civil settlement Brain injury case, 2016
- Personal injury 20 million dollar settlement brain injury, 2018
- over 40 you tube videos on DUI and DMV matters to educate the public and clients, 40 youtube, Legal, 2015
- Court Certified Expert on Street Gangs, Municipal and Superior Courts of San Bernardino County (1981)
- Court Certified Drug Recognition Expert, Municipal and Superior Court of San Bernardino County (1982)
- Private Investigator, California License No. AA 012758
- Traffic School Instructors License No. TV 103 501
- Police Officers Standards and Training Advanced Certificate No. 29566
- Police Officers Standards and Training Supervisory Certificate No. S14826
- Police Officers Standards and Training Intermediate Certificate No. 20987
- Police Officers Standards and Training Basic Certificate No. 19440
- Head Coach, St. Adelaide’s Junior Varsity Football, 1996 – 2000
- Head Coach, St. Adelaide’s Varsity Football, 2000 – 2002
- Head Coach, St. Adelaide’s School JV Basketball, 1996 – 2000
- Head Coach, St. Adelaide’s Varsity Basketball, 2000 – 2002
- Coach, Highland Little League, 1996 – 1997
- Manager, Highland Girls Softball League, 1997
- Vice President/Board of Directors Cedar House (125 bed inpatient alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility): 2005 – 2008
- Member of Aquinas High School President’s Advisory Board, October 2009 – Present
- School Board Member, Aquinas High School, San Bernardino, CA, 2002 – 2007
- Board Member, John Lewis King Memorial Scholarship Fund (the John Lewis King Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to qualified law students, and since its inception, approximately $100,000 has been awarded to law students) – 2014
- Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Pro Bono Services, donating over 1000 hours of pro bono services in the last five years, and donating over $20,000 to fund a lawsuit on behalf of an indigent client
- Board Member – Inland Counties Collaborative Courts Fund-raising Committee (My role along with other members was to raise monies to help support our local Collaborative Courts, such as Veteran’s Court, Drug Court, Mental health Court, and Homeless Court), 2013-2014
- Organizer of Scafiddi Family Trust Annual Family Toy Drive for Children of Parents Involved in Recovery in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties (Since 2011 over 750 toys have been donated), 2011 – Present
- Chairperson, San Bernardino County Bar Association “We Care Community Program” (A program designed to encourage local lawyers to donate money to assist those less fortunate in our community. As a result of this program, over $120,000 was committed to help those in need in our local community, including a $100,000 donation to Cedar House, a 125 bed inpatient alcohol treatment and rehabilitation center): 2009 – 2010
- Vice President/Board of Directors Cedar House (125 bed inpatient alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility): 2005 – 2008
- Aquinas High School, 2017
- Aquinas High School Presidents Advisory Committee -2015,2016,2017, 2015
- Cedar House Life Change Center -Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center Board of Directors- 10 years President 2014, 2015,2016, 2016
- Five year legal battle for a disabled woman with over 2000 hours of pro bono work. Ending in a six figure verdict in federal court against her church pastor., 2014
- Law Week -San Bernardino County Bar Association-lecturing middle school students, 2014
- Cal Gang Database Technical Advisory Committee -appointed by the Speaker fo the Assembly Anthony Rendon, 2018
- Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Pro Bono Work -200 hours annually since 1997, 2019
- California Southern Law School Scholastic Achievement Award – Trusts
- California Southern Law School Scholastic Achievement Award – Real Property
- California Southern Law School Scholastic Achievement Award – Commercial Law
- California Southern Law School Scholastic Achievement Award – Wills
- AVVO Rating Award for “Widely recognized by the legal community for superb professional conduct and experience – 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013
- Officer of the Year, Banning Police Department
- Life Saving Award, Ontario Police Department
- Aquinas High School Football, Mike Scafiddi “Never Say Die” Award: Annual Award to football player
- AV Preeminent 5.0/5.0, the oldest National Lawyer Rating Service, Martindale Hubbell
- The National Trial Lawyers Award, awarded to Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2013 – 2014
- Top 100 Trial Lawyer, 2013-2014
- AVVO rating (10.0), 2009
- Certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Superior Court of the County of San Bernardino
- Awarded for extraordinary commitment to providing equal access to justice through Pro Bono work in the Inland Counties Michael A. Scafiddi, who for 16 years has served on the board of the San Bernardino County Legal Aid Society, has set up a program to encourage other local attorneys to give back which has raised $150,000 and stimulated 400 additional pro bono hours for the community. LSC is the single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans in the nation. Established in 1974, LSC operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that promotes equal access to justice and provides grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans, Certificate of Appreciation Award, Legal Services Corporation, 2015
- Highest rating by AVVO 144 client reviews with 5 Stars The Avvo Rating is our effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. We create the rating using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals, Rated AVVO 10 superb, AVVO, 2019
- Awarded to attorneys who achieve the highest possible Peer Review ratings in both legal ability and Ethical Behaviour 2014-Present, AV 5.0 Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell, 2014
- Awarded to individual who shows selfless dedication and providing of Pro Bono Services to insure access to justice for all, Access to Justice Award, Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, 2013
- awarded for support of catholic education, The Seton Hope Award, The Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino, 2015
- Presented to attorneys for exemplifying the five "C"'s Candour, Compassion, Civility, Courage and Competence, Jennifer Brooks Lawyer of the Year Award, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association, 2016
- Awarded to attorneys showing service and devotion to church, community and justice, St. Thomas Moore Award, Red Mass Steering Committee Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, 2012
- Outstanding Pro Bono Service in San Bernardino County for gibing time and energy and expertise to others, Kearney Nydam Award, San Bernardino County Bar Association, 2010
- Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association operates 7 legal aid clinics throughout the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside., Lawyer of the Year, Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, 2015
- California Southern Law School, Bachelors of Science in Law: June 1995
- Brooklyn College, September 1976 thru June 1978
- San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Basic law Enforcement Academy, April 1980
- Chaffey College, Associate Science Degree, June 1991
- John Jay High School, Graduated June 1976
- CGIA – Certificate of Training Street Gang Investigations
- Guest Lecturer, San Bernardino County Bar Association Civil and Criminal Law Symposiums – 2009 to 2013
- Guest Lecturer New Admittee “Bridging the Gap Programs”: 2008 – Present
- Past Guest Instructor at the University of California Riverside, extension program, Law and Public Policy seminars, introduction to personal injury
- Past Program Coordinator for the delinquency program at the University of California Riverside, extension program, Department of Law and Public Policy
- Traffic School Instructor, Pacific Seminar Traffic School Walnut Creek, California 1989 – 1993
- Over 100 hours of Special Instruction MCLE’s on Criminal Defense and DUI matters
- Police Officers Standards and Training Police Management School
- Police Officers Standards and Training Police Supervisor Schoo
- Clandestine Lab Seminar
- National Law Enforcement Institute Gang Seminar
- Sixty hours of mandatory continuing law education since 2000
- Rio Hondo College Ethnic Relations/Gangs
- Chaffey College Advanced Officer Training Certificate
- Department of Justice Certificate of Training – Narcotic Enforcement for Police Officers
- Department of Justice Certificate of Training – Prison Gang Activity
- Department of Justice, Certificate of Training – Street Gang Activity
- Rio Hondo College Special Weapons and Tactics
- California College – Advanced Techniques in Collision Reconstruction
- lecture to paralegals sponsored by the Riverside County Bar Association, Speaker, Using Discovery to Aid Clients in civil and personal injury cases, Legal, 2018
- Juvenile Institute Seminar (WIC 602/300 MCLE – January 2002)
- Juvenile Law Institute (Eight hour MCLE seminar WIC 602/300 – January 2004)
- presentation to the Board of Directors, speaker, Understanding Drug Court, Cedar House Life Change Center, Durg Rehab And Legal, 2016
- presentation to attorneys, part of a panel presentation, Understanding 1203.4, Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, Legal, 2017
- lecture to other attorneys, speaker, Cavity while being an advocate, Inn's of Court, Legal, 2016
Office location for Michael Scafiddi
432 N. Arrowhead Ave
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Phone: 909-381-1000
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